Search Results (96)

Over the last 20 years, poverty has undergone profound changes, even affecting people who were once safe from the processes of impoverishment. Hidden under the guise of normal difficulties considered part of the natural course of life, it has lost its “occasional” connotation and has become “established” in people’s lives, causing new and dangerous trends. The article offers some reflections on how these dynamics have become particularly widespread in Italy, resulting in two types of poverty: cultural poverty, linked to the phenomenon of young NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training), and working poverty. These types of poverty are linked and risk feeding off each other. On the one hand, poor cultural tools force young people to settle for low-paid jobs. On the other hand, poor-quality work, due to poor training, discourages people from pursuing education and training and traps poor workers in a situation of social stagnation. A possible tool to tackle these issues could be Responsible Welfare, which focuses on the person as a unique entity, implementing the resilience of individuals to promote self-esteem while also enhancing relational, social, and community resources. Full article

Survey and detection of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), rely either on traps that exploit the insect’s behavior as it navigates its environment, or on visual surveys of either its mobile life stages or egg masses. A recently described egg mass trap, coined the “lampshade” trap, can assist with early detection in newly infested areas, provide egg masses for researchers, and potentially facilitate spotted lanternfly population reduction by removal of egg masses from the environment. Here, we describe a modified lampshade trap, the sconce trap, that uses less material, can be pre-cut prior to deployment, and can be deployed by one person, representing potential cost, labor, and time savings. Both traps were comparable at detecting populations of spotted lanternflies, and while females deposited more eggs on the larger lampshade traps, they deposited more eggs on sconce traps as a function of trap area. Full article

The Entrapment Scale was developed to measure the feeling of being trapped by external situations or internal experiences (such as thoughts and emotions) without the possibility of escape. This perception, especially when combined with feelings of defeat, is central to integrated motivational–volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behavior. This study adapts the Entrapment Scale for Spanish adolescents and emerging adults, focusing on its internal structure, reliability, and criterion validity. We assessed 849 participants (48.1% male) aged 12 to 22 and compared three models: a correlated two-factor model, a second-order factor model, and a bifactor model. The bifactor model showed the best fit, indicating that a general entrapment factor influenced all items, while specific internal and external factors captured unique aspects. Importantly, distinguishing between internal and external entrapment can guide the development of more personalized and effective therapeutic strategies, as the relevance of each dimension may vary depending on the behaviors or symptoms present. This approach allows clinicians to target interventions more precisely to the individual’s needs. Theoretical and practical implications for understanding and addressing suicidal behavior are discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been highly successful in treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The nationwide Treatment as Prevention of Hepatitis C (TraP HepC) initiative that was launched in Iceland in 2016 utilized liver stiffness measurements (LSM) to assess liver fibrosis at baseline and follow-up. We aimed to determine changes in liver stiffness among patients following treatment with DAAs and evaluate risk factors associated with hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Eligible CHC patients with liver stiffness of >9.5 kilopascals (kPa) before DAA treatment were invited for a follow-up visit in 2024. Risk factors for cirrhosis were registered, LSM performed, and liver enzymes, blood lipids, and glucose levels measured. Changes in liver stiffness were compared to baseline measurements, and correlations with risk factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 96 patients had LSMs > 9.5 kPa at treatment initiation. During the follow-up period, 61 were eligible for participation, 38 consented, and 34 (35%) died. The total follow-up was 258.3 person-years. The median follow-up period between measurements was 7.1 years. The median liver stiffness decreased from 17.2 kPa to 7.3 kPa (p < 0.01), and 80% of those with cirrhosis (>12.5 kPa) regressed to non-cirrhotic values. High BMI and daily alcohol consumption were significantly associated with increased liver stiffness in 8% of patients. Conclusions: In this single-arm, pre-post pilot study, liver stiffness regressed significantly in 92% of patients who were cured of CHC. Patients with other persistent risk factors following cure, such as obesity and alcohol abuse, were the only patients who had increased liver stiffness at the end of follow-up. Full article

With the advancement of global economic restructuring and China’s economic transformation, structural employment contradictions have intensified amid increasingly competitive labor markets. The frequent occurrences of “degree devaluation” and talent “downskilling” have made perceived overqualification increasingly prevalent in organizations. This study, based on the Cognitive–Affective Personality System theory, investigates the differential mechanisms through which perceived overqualification drives approach and avoidance job crafting via cognitive and affective pathways. Data from a two-wave survey of 556 Chinese employees produced several key findings: (1) Perceived overqualification significantly enhances approach job crafting while suppressing avoidance job crafting by elevating role breadth self-efficacy (cognitive pathway), demonstrating a proactive breakthrough effect. (2) Perceived overqualification inhibits approach job crafting and exacerbates avoidance job crafting through triggering emotional exhaustion (affective pathway), revealing a passive exhaustion trap. (3) Perceived overqualification exerts a positive and significant overall indirect effect on approach job crafting through the combined mechanisms of cognitive gains from role breadth self-efficacy and affective costs from emotional exhaustion, whereas the overall indirect effect on avoidance job crafting is non-significant. (4) Idiosyncratic deals (i-deals) function as a dynamic boundary mechanism that amplifies the positive impact of role breadth self-efficacy and mitigates the negative effects of emotional exhaustion, while moderating the mediating roles of both pathways. This research develops a dual-path integrated model of perceived overqualification and job crafting by classifying job crafting categories, incorporating cognitive–affective pathways, and introducing i-deals as a contextual element. These findings respond to scholarly demands for elucidating the intricate connections between perceived overqualification and job crafting through integrative perspectives; in addition, they offer theoretical and practical insights for organizations to leverage the potential of overqualified individuals appropriately. Full article

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience acute exacerbations characterized by elevated neutrophilic inflammation in the lungs. Currently, this condition is diagnosed through visual inspection of sputum color and volume, a method prone to personal bias and unsuitable for patients who are unable to expectorate spontaneously. In this manuscript, we present a novel approach for measuring and monitoring exhaled myeloperoxidase (MPO), a biomarker of neutrophilic airway inflammation, without the need for sputum analysis. The method involves analyzing an unmodified surgical facemask worn by the patient for 30 min using biosensing decals that transfer antibody-coated nanoparticles. These colloids specifically interact with MPO trapped by the facemask in a dose-dependent manner, enabling the quantification of MPO levels, with a dynamic range up to 3 · 10¹ µg·mL⁻¹. The proposed diagnostic approach successfully differentiated patients with acute exacerbations from stable patients with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Healthy individuals also showed significantly lower MPO levels compared to COPD patients. Our results suggest that facemask analysis could be a non-invasive diagnostic tool for airway diseases, particularly in patients unable to expectorate. Full article

Thrombophilia is characterized by a hypercoagulable state that predisposes individuals to venous and arterial thrombotic events, posing significant challenges for clinical evaluation and management. This narrative review critically examines the current landscape of thrombophilia testing, focusing on the utility and limitations of both circulating and genetic biomarkers. Circulating biomarkers—such as D-dimer, antithrombin, protein C, and protein S—offer dynamic insights into the coagulation process yet often suffer from low specificity in varied clinical settings. In contrast, genetic biomarkers, notably Factor V Leiden and the prothrombin G20210A mutation, provide stable risk stratification but are limited by their low prevalence in the general population. Emerging markers, including selectins, Factor VIII, Factor XI, neutrophil extracellular traps, and extracellular vesicles, are also discussed for their potential to refine thrombotic risk assessment. By integrating evidence-based guidelines from international health organizations, this review underscores the need for a personalized approach to thrombophilia evaluation that balances comprehensive risk assessment with the avoidance of over-testing. Such an approach is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and informing the duration and intensity of anticoagulant therapy. Full article

Around 2–8% of children and adolescents in developed societies are young carers, who provide care for ill, disabled, or addicted family members. This paper investigates the vulnerability and multidimensional injustices faced by young carers, drawing on empirical studies—both qualitative and quantitative—and social theory to reveal how young carers navigate their roles within the broader context of social inequality, highlighting the social structures and mechanisms that contribute to their marginalization and the detrimental consequences for their social inclusion, well-being, and personal development. The methodology of this article is a narrative analysis of relevant empirical research on young carers, combined with an analysis of this literature through a normative framework of social justice, which examines four dimensions of justice in order to highlight the vulnerability of young carers. (1) Firstly, young carers are often pushed into their situation because of economic and social constraints, which do not allow the family to find a different solution. Economic inequalities lead to and enforce caring obligations and have a cumulative negative effect on the young carer. Limited resources can be problematic for social inclusion, and when combined with caring obligations, they are corrosive. (2) Secondly, young carers are often victims of moral blackmail, which is that they are trapped in a situation where it would be morally wrong for them to act otherwise. Such moral blackmail can be carried out by those who are cared for, by the family and relatives or even by society, which could, but does not provide alternatives to young carers. (3) Thirdly, young carers are often manipulated to accept their caring obligations through distorted social norms and practices. Other than in the case of moral blackmail, such young carers do not care because they want to do the morally right thing and do have no alternatives available, but because they internalized that it would be normal for them to do so. Two concepts are useful to capture this aspect: adaptive preferences and indoctrination. (4) Fourthly, young people caring is often a form of exploitation, in that it takes unfair advantage of the young carer by receiving something from them, without giving an equivalent in return (and harming them in the process). Full article

It is known that the effectiveness of drug treatment for depression, ammine deficit based, is largely unsatisfactory. In this review, we examine the proposal of a precision therapy has emerged and has received a strong push by the identification of the role of inflammation in depression. However, precision psychiatry risks being caught in the reductionist trap of searching for the molecular switch that resets the whole system and switches off the disease. This is an illusion since the human being is complex and depression is a systemic and variable disorder. In this study, we show the inadequacy of the reductionist paradigm, and, at the same time, illustrate the superiority of the systemic paradigm centered on psychoneuroendocrineimmunology (PNEI). According to the PNEI paradigm, depression is a disease of the whole human being, caused by different sources working together: psychological, biological, and behavioral. This means knowing the biological and psychological history of the subject, identifying relational and biological crisis factors, and building personalized treatments targeting those factors with the tools of medicine and psychology, which are not reducible to the combination of drugs and psychotherapy. Our proposal presents a paradigm shift that is both theoretical and practical, which enables clinicians to assess patients experiencing depression in a unified way and treat them in an integrated manner. Full article

This study aimed to shorten firefighter search times during indoor fires, allowing more people to be rescued, by enhancing disaster-prevention capabilities using building technologies. In indoor fires, fatalities are often caused by the failure of firefighters to rescue individuals in a timely manner. The question of how to effectively increase the probability of survival while waiting for rescue behind closed doors warrants in-depth research and analysis. Therefore, to ensure that people live in safe environments, there is an urgent need to develop a building door panel material with an emergency call function to prevent such incidents from occurring. Utilizing the PRISMA method, we conducted a comprehensive review of the existing literature to identify the key issues and limitations associated with the current search-and-rescue techniques. Subsequently, the identified primary factors were analyzed using the TRIZ method to determine the key factors that influence the success of rescuing trapped individuals, and a notification system was designed to address this issue. Based on the premise that it is advisable to wait for rescue during a fire, we utilized a smartphone to scan a QR code and transmit the exact location information to the fire department. Through extensive participation and feedback from firefighters, we developed a rescue notification door panel and obtained a patent for it. This system can significantly reduce the time required for search-and-rescue operations in fire incidents. The experimental results show a reduction of one-third in search times. Full article

Herein, a recently developed UAV/Drone approach as a new vector for the collection of airborne particulate matter is reported. In this study, airborne particle emissions from plumes generated in a holiday fireworks display were collected. A platform fabricated using a 3D printer was mounted on the drone, which allowed for particulate capture using double-sided carbon tape attached to aluminum disks. The drone platform was used to trap airborne samples from two types of plumes: high-altitude sampling (HAS), which relates to professional fireworks, and low-altitude sampling (LAS), associated with personal fireworks. Collected samples were studied using a Scanning Electron Microscope alongside Electron Dispersal X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental composition analysis. The overall findings regarding the physical morphology reveal several key observations. Firstly, particles from professional fireworks are significantly larger and more spheroidal than those from personal fireworks. Secondly, both types of fireworks show a consistent trend in which some of the larger particles have finer particulates deposited on their surfaces. Lastly, the plumes produced by both types contain spheres that are either solid, hollow or exhibit a core–shell structure. EDX analysis revealed the presence of various types of metals within the samples. EDX analysis shows that the samples collected from the HAS and LAS contain particulates with common elements. However, the samples from the plume of professional fireworks appear to have Ba, Mg, and Fe compared to the samples from personal fireworks. These elements are known to be used in powerful fireworks to create colored displays. A proposed mechanism for particulate growth in fireworks is proposed and discussed. Full article

This review explores the crucial role of established and emerging biomarkers in the diagnosis, management, and understanding of post-COVID-19 conditions. With COVID-19 affecting multiple organ systems, biomarkers have been instrumental in identifying ongoing inflammation and tissue damage, facilitating early diagnosis and prognostication. Specifically, markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and novel entities such as soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) provide insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms and predict long-term outcomes. This review highlights the integration of these biomarkers into clinical workflows and their implications for personalized medicine, emphasizing their potential in guiding therapeutic interventions and monitoring recovery. Future directions suggest a focus on longitudinal studies to explore biomarker trajectories and their interaction with therapeutic outcomes, aiming to enhance the management of post-COVID-19 conditions and refine public health strategies. Full article

Urban free-roaming cat populations (or community cats, according to the Spanish legislation) present complex challenges, including public health risks, coexistence conflicts with residents, animal welfare, and threats to biodiversity conservation. In 2020, Córdoba, Spain, initiated one of the most extensive citywide trap–neuter–return (TNR) programs, incorporating 225 groups of cats (usually named colonies) into a meticulously structured management framework. Over four years, the program stabilized cat populations, achieving 95% sterilization coverage and effectively limiting population growth despite external challenges, including abandonment, influxes from unmanaged areas, and compensatory effects. Although the overall population showed a modest decline of 2.68%, this outcome reflects not only the recent inclusion of numerous colonies still undergoing stabilization but also the prevention of an estimated 70% population growth without intervention, as projected by our population viability analysis (PVA). Key results highlight the program’s cost-effectiveness, with an average annual cost of EUR 0.62 per person. The long-term projections from a population viability analysis (PVA) using demographic modeling suggest a potential 55% population reduction by 2028, contingent on sustained efforts. The program’s integration of citizen science, systematic data collection, and adaptive management demonstrates its scalability and replicability as a model for urban and peri-urban feline management globally. Its significance lies not only in its scope and scale but also in demonstrating the ethical and practical feasibility of large-scale TNR initiatives in urban contexts. Córdoba’s program, which predates Spain’s Animal Welfare Law 7/2023 mandating structured feline colony management plans, demonstrates a pioneering framework for compliance and innovation in urban animal management. These findings underscore the critical role of sustained interventions, community collaboration, and legal frameworks in ensuring long-term success and addressing global challenges in urban animal welfare and biodiversity conservation. Full article

Background: Aedes species transmit arboviral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. The diseases cause severe sickness, mortality, and economic losses. This study describes the biting hour and host-seeking behavior of Ae. aegypti and Ae. vittatus in three towns. Recently, chikungunya and dengue infections were reported in the study sites. Methods: Biting hour and host-seeking behaviors of Ae. aegypti and Ae. vittatus were studied from June to September 2023, in Genda-Wuha, Kokit, and Metema-Yohannes towns, Metema district, Northwest Ethiopia. CDC-LT traps were set running indoors and outdoors for 24 h closer to humans sleeping inside unimpregnated mosquito nets. At the same time, CDC-LT traps were set running overnight closer to domestic animals’ shelters located within a 50-m radius of the main residence. Mosquitoes trapped in CDC-LT were collected every hour. The study was conducted four times in each town during the wet season. A chi-square test was employed to examine biting hour and host-seeking behavior. Results: Aedes aegypti was observed to be highly exophilic and active during the daylight hours. Aedes aegypti exhibited a peak biting rate between 07:00 and 08:00 with the biting rate of 4.5/person/hour followed by from 17:00 pm to 18:00 pm with the biting rate of 3.75/person/hour. The hourly biting rate of Ae. aegypti differed significantly. Its peak indoor biting rate was from 19:00 to 20:00 with the rate of 2.00 bites/person/hour followed by from 08:00 to 09:00 with the rate of 1.50 bites/person/hour and the biting rates differed significantly across the hours (F = 240.046; p = 0.001). Aedes vittatus also exhibited a biting rate similar to that of Ae. aegypti. Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. vittatus were abundantly collected from nearby human sleeping arrangements than from the shelters of cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys. The highest proportions of Ae. aegypti (91.21%) and Ae. vittatus (89.87%) were unfed. Conclusions: Aedes aegypti and Ae. vittatus exhibited peak biting rates during morning and early night hours that aligned with the active daily routine practices of the local community. This could potentially expose the inhabitants to viral diseases transmitted by Ae. aegypti and Ae. vittatus. Full article

In the context of sustainable agricultural development and rural revitalization in China, understanding and addressing psychological poverty traps among rural farm households is crucial. The poverty mindset represents a crucial factor affecting rural poverty. This study focuses on two key questions: first, whether and how material poverty influences the poverty mindset; and second, whether this psychological state affects economic behavior, potentially intensifying material poverty. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2014–2018, the data collection employed a multi-stage stratified sampling approach. Multiple methods, including questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews, were utilized to gather information. Through matching and merging processes based on personal questionnaire IDs, a total of 30,143 observations were obtained over a three-year period. We employ Causal Mediation Analysis (CMA) to examine the micro-level mechanisms between material and psychological poverty among rural farm households. Our findings reveal three key insights. First, material poverty significantly reduces aspiration levels and behavioral capabilities of rural farm households, with impoverished groups scoring approximately 10% lower than non-poor groups. Second, this negative impact operates through two primary channels: stigma effects (self-stigmatization 11.29%, social stigma 4.71%) and psychological resource depletion (negative emotions 1.5%, psychological stress 1.27%). Third, psychological poverty reinforces material poverty through aspiration failure (72.3%) and capability deficiency (75.68%), creating a self-perpetuating “psychological poverty trap” that particularly affects agricultural production efficiency. These findings suggest that sustainable agricultural development requires addressing both material and psychological dimensions of rural poverty. Policy recommendations include strengthening psychological support for farm households, enhancing agricultural capacity building, mitigating stigma effects in rural communities, and reconstructing psychological resources for sustainable development. This integrated approach can help break psychological poverty traps, improve agricultural productivity, and support rural revitalization in China. Full article